Teaching the difficult heritage of Italian Fascism

In recent years, the architectural legacy and so-called ‘difficult heritage’ of Fascist Italy has become a flourishing field of research. These topics have also begun to make their way into the undergraduate classroom. To date, however, there has been little research carried out into the methods we use to teach the history of Fascism in particular. In this short article, we outline how we have applied problem-based learning and scenario-based learning approaches to tackle this topic. After presenting three assignments, we explain the benefits associated with a PBL/SBL approach, summarised under the headings of interdisciplinarity, creativity and authenticity, before highlighting some aspects on which colleagues may wish to reflect if they are considering adopting a similar approach in their teaching. // In anni recenti il patrimonio architettonico e il cosiddetto ‘difficult heritage’ dell'Italia fascista sono diventati un campo di ricerca fecondo. Questi temi hanno cominciato a farsi strada anche nelle aule universitarie. Tuttavia finora sono state condotti pochi studi sui metodi che utilizziamo per insegnare la storia del fascismo nelle università. In questo breve articolo, delineiamo i modi in cui abbiamo affrontato questo argomento applicando metodi di apprendimento che si basano su problemi e scenari verosimili (PBL/SBL). Dopo aver presentato i tre compiti cha abbiamo affidato ai nostri studenti, spieghiamo i vantaggi associati a un approccio PBL/SBL, che sono riassunti sotto le voci di interdisciplinarità, creatività e autenticità, prima di evidenziare alcuni aspetti su cui i colleghi potrebbero voler riflettere se stanno pensando di adottare un approccio simile nei loro corsi di insegnamento

Private car transport and the 10% RES-T target - quantifying the contribution of EVs and biofuels

In 2008, renewable energy accounted for less than 1% of final energy consumption in the Irish transport sector. In order to increase this share to 10% by 2020 as required under EU directive 2009/28/EC, the Irish government has introduced two specific measures: 10% of the transport fleet is to be powered by electricity by 2020, and an obligation on road transport fuel suppliers that biofuels account for a certain portion of their fuel sales. This study forecasts the impact of these existing measures towards meeting the 10% RES-T target by 2020, focussing on private car transport. The methodology presented is derived from a forecast of private car fuel demand based on a technological stock model of Ireland’s fleet. This paper demonstrates the use of this as a tool firstly as an energy forecasting technique and secondly as a method for evaluating the effects of policy measures on the technological composition and consequent renewable energy demand and related CO2emissions of private cars. Technological scenarios examined in this light are electric vehicles, compressed natural gas vehicles and biofuel blendin

Kids Share 2022: Report on Federal Expenditures on Children through 2021 and Future Projections

Public spending on children represents an effort to invest in the nation's future. Investments supporting children's healthy development and human potential can promote their well-being and help them grow into the next generation of adults and workers, leading to a stronger workforce and economy.To inform policymakers, children's advocates, and the general public about how public funds are spent on children, this 16th edition of the annual Kids' Share report provides an updated analysis of federal expenditures on children from 1960 to 2021. It also offers an updated view of public expenditures made in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Projections of federal expenditures on children through 2032 give a sense of how budget priorities are scheduled to unfold over the longer term under current law

CCU 2003 National Survey of the Presentation and Management of Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) and other Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS) in Irish Hospitals

Background Ireland has one of the highest rates of mortality from cardiovascular disease in Europe. Time to medical treatment is crucial in the management of Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS). The aim of the present study was to provide an overview of the current patterns of presentation and management of ACS in Ireland. Treatment of both acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and other ACS patients was assessed. Findings were compared to a previous national survey conducted in 1994. The prevalence of depression post-ACS event was also assessed

Paul G. Leahy, Connor McGookin, Hannah E. Daly

In 2020, the Energy Engineering programme team at University College Cork undertook a redesign of the introductory first-year module in Energy Engineering. The aim was to introduce a more experientially-based learning experience and to allow first-year students greater opportunity to develop and demonstrate performance-based understanding. The key material change to the module was to incorporate design and group work in the first year of the programme. In the Wind Turbine Maker Challenge, groups of 4-5 students were tasked with designing and building a working wind turbine. Students were provided with kits comprising some basic elements of turbines including small generators and gearboxes and simple, flat blades. However, the focus of the exercise was on original design, particularly of the aerodynamic rotor components of the turbines. The participants had to source their own materials for the wind turbine rotors, and were encouraged to use recovered or recycled materials. Students were also asked to consider ethical aspects of wind energy generation. In developing this approach, the conceptualisation of teaching as setting up and facilitating students' performance was to the forefront. The formal classroom instruction was limited to only the core knowledge required to enable students to begin to consider suitable materials, geometries for their turbine designs through hands-on experimentation. Survey feedback from students showed that they had strongly focussed on the environmental and sustainability aspects of the exercise. Students were asked what they thought the goal of the exercise was. Students’ reported understandings of the main goal varied widely, for example “Learning how wind turbines work” and “Working as a team towards a common goal”. However, all of the students’ reported goals were compatible with the module’s learning outcomes

Spatially and Temporally Explicit Energy System Modelling to Support the Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Infrastructure -Case Study for Wind Energy in the UK

ABSTRACT Renewable energy sources and electricity demand vary with time and space and the energy system is constrained by the location of the current infrastructure in place. The transitioning to a low carbon energy society can be facilitated by combining long term planning of infrastructure with taking spatial and temporal characteristics of the energy system into account. There is a lack of studies addressing this systemic view. We soft-link two models in order to analyse long term investment decisions in generation, transmission and storage capacities and the effects of short-term fluctuation of renewable supply: The national energy system model UKTM (UK TIMES model) and a dispatch model. The modelling approach combines the benefits of two models: an energy system model to analyse decarbonisation pathways and a power dispatch model that can evaluate the technical feasibility of those pathways and the impact of intermittent renewable energy sources on the power market. Results give us the technical feasibility of the UKTM solution from 2010 until 2050. This allows us to determine lower bounds of flexible elements and feeding them back in an iterative process (e.g. storage, demand side control, balancing). We apply the methodology to study the long-term investments of wind infrastructure in the United Kingdom

The global surface roughness of 25143 Itokawa

Surface roughness is an important metric in understanding how the geologic history of an asteroid affects its small-scale topography and it provides an additional means to quantitatively compare one asteroid with another. In this study, we report the first detailed global surface roughness maps of 25143 Itokawa at horizontal scales from 8--32~m. Comparison of the spatial distribution of the surface roughness of Itokawa with 433 Eros, the other asteroid for which this kind of analysis has been possible, indicates that the two asteroids are dominated by different geologic processes. On Itokawa, the surface roughness reflects the results of down-slope activity that moves fine grained material into geopotential lows and leaves large blocks in geopotential highs. On 433 Eros, the surface roughness is controlled by geologically-recent large impact craters. In addition, large longitudinal spatial variations of surface roughness could impact the role of YORP on Itokawa

Beyond car efficiency and electrification: Examining the role of demand reduction, public transit, and active travel measures to reduce GHG emissions in transport

This paper applies a data set of passenger kilometre transport demand by trip-purpose, mode type and tripdistance based on the outcomes of a National Travel Survey. The Irish Passenger Transport Emissions and Mobility (IPTEM) model enables a system-wide perspective on various measures which could be introduced to reduce passenger transport emissions. Combined with the LEAP Ireland 2050 energy systems simulation model, the carbon abatement potential of trip-purpose based policies, modal shift policies and technology improvements in public transport can be assessed. The results indicate that significant savings can be achieved from modal shift in Ireland, and that trip-purpose based targets and policies have a relevance in the effort to reduce Ireland’s energy related transport CO2 emissions. The active mode scenarios, which focus on increased walking and cycling achieve a 0.2 – 1 MTCO2 reduction in annual passenger transport emissions in 2030. The range of public transport scenarios, inspired by targets set out by the Irish Government’s Climate Action Plan achieve a between 0.001 – 0.3 MTCO2 reduction in annual passenger transport emissions in 2030. In addition, traffic camera data is used to model the impact of COVID-19 travel restrictions on transport CO2 emissions. The calculated reduction in transport CO2 emissions is 3.9 MTCO2 for 2020 and 2021. This study highlights the importance of factoring modal shift, trip distance and trip purpose into scenario analysis for transport emissions reduction, as it provides a framework for looking beyond only improving technologies in private vehicle transport